New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-14
NO RACE BECAUSE NO WIND.
BAD LUCK FOR VOLUNTEER AND MAY.
FLOWER

AHo 'oiunueer ana Maynower tried to sail tho
nrst OF the trial races yesterday over the inside
course OF the New-Yorlk Yacht Club. Owing TO
the lack OF wind they were able to complete
little more than third Of 1t when the Cup Com.
m1ttce decided to declare the race so6.s the
yachts at that time having anchored because they
were unable longer to make headway against tho
incoming tide. The MayHower was then about
fifty yards sstern Of tho Volunteer.
As test of the relative speed Of the two yachts
the race, so far as It went, was inconclnsip.
cup race could not be sailed in such light wind
because Of the time limit. When the wind held
at all steady tho Volunteer seemed to make the
better showing, and with the enlarged mainsail
and longer boom which she will use In the cup
races II selected as the American representative
she would undoubtedly have done better.
As is always the case with Commodore Gerry
and the Regatta Committee. the arrangements 80
far as they were within their control, were ad-
mirably carried out The starting signals were
all given ct the exact time announced in the SAIL
Ing regulations, But much to their regret, they
could not control the excursion steamers. tugs
and steam yachts that accompanied the contest
ants over the course. The behavior OF some Of
these was. to say the least, indiscroet. They
would persist In passing so near to the yachts
that their wash necessarily impcded the yachts
progress little. In this respect the steam yachts
ought to set the excursion steamers q good
ample, but ley didn't, being often the worst
sinners.
Interest In the race was much heightened BY
the presence of the Thistle, sailed for the first
time in these waters after q fashion that afforded
some indication of what she can do. The cXbibi-
ton she gave Of her prowess made the Scotchn,en
jubilant and the admirers of the Volunteer
thoughtful At times she drew away from both
the competing yachts but then she was not
hampered by the necessity OF sticking TO the
course. With mansail, club topsail and balloon
jlb she had something Of brush with the Attain
tic and appeared to get the better of that speedy
sloop; but they were too far of accurately to
Judge Of that from the Electra. The Thistle
people said after she had returned from the cruise
that she had been "held back" and they are not
given to talk buncombe.
HOW THE RACE WAS NOT SAILED.
THE YACHTS LOOKING IN VAIN FOR WIND
DRIVEN BACK BY THE TIDE.
Commodore Gerry Is nothing II not prompt He had
requested guests and reporters to be on board tho
Electra at $780, At that the sky leadc0lorod
There mist hat from midstroam almost concealed
both shores The breeze light very ght-from the
east and the CLASSY. All night the two sloops
had slept within almosta biscuit another Men
early astir them. BY 10 O'Clock they had main.
sails and club topsails set The Maynowcr's ma.nszil
appeared to be trine the bigger It squarer cut
mainsal that she used in the New-York Yacht Club
cruise. She had time to put In posItton the boom
made for her new and enlarged mainsai and Gsneral
Paine concluded that she would do better with small es
mainsa that would set well than with larger has
would bag little because Of the being too Short
Both yachts had mainsails large enough to stop a.
much wind the front Of big house. The seventyfees
spinnaker poles adjusted and then jtos were
hoisted At l0:15 the anchors were weighed and he
two giants began to walk through the water. Tnsy
moved at eIsurey gait, merely wishing 20 keep close
10 the starting line until the signal should be given
Soon after getting under way they broke out baoonb
saysas tho Volunteers being the larger. Balloon Ss
up the stays in stops
Meanwhile sails hoistcd on O number OF tho
yachts OF Bay Ridge aud they prepared to follow mo
dyers and excursion steamers and tugs loomed ons
OF the Mat on Tompkinsve the Thistle was observed
getting under way.
At O30 sharp gun doomed forth from the Electra
It signal prepare for the The Volunteer
and Maydower were doing their best to keep about
stationary little north Of the starting line, which was
OF Owls Head between the Electra and Buoy Is. At
10 40 the starting gun fred Like flash the Volun
teer broke out her huge silk balloon and forged ahead
rapidly The Mayfower quick at breaking out hcrs.
too, but the Volunteer got over the line hsst at
10 al :28 2-5. The Mayfower went at lC :4l:3Z
What meant for screams OF Joy but sounded like
walls OF agony ascended from OF brass throata
At the same time the broke O hole In the eadon
lining of the clouds and smiled cheering welcome on
all.
Both yachts took in their bs aud forestaysas LEI
the big balloon bs do all the pulling The Volunteer In
Eastern waters established reputation goer In
light wind and she showed that the reputation
well deserved. She quickly opened wide gap between
herself and the Mayhower. The wind was on tho port
quarter but it fell very light in few minutes and the
huge coored silk balloon b Of the Volunteer hung
In folds In another minute the Volunteer had run into
culm about quarter Of mile below Fort Hamilton
She was close the Long Island shore and Jbcd oves
heading toward staten Island to catch little wtn6
The yachts crawled along with painful siowness.
Meanwhile tho Thistle, with some one aboard OF ~
who was afraid to let her co. mad stood ons froe
Tompkinsville. heading for Fort Lafayctta Sailing
across the wind slipped through tho water fssfsr
than either the Volunteer Maynowsr. But this tue
demonstration Of what she coald DO IL sure 70 sena
Thistle stock up somewhak She tbed and hsaoed evo
toward the Staten Island shore TO get ont OK ne vW0
the Msyfower wuich had orawied up the voiunsssE
Tho wind what there Of it--hsd veered u wsse
northwest rt hardly enough to make the hsgs nap
Tho yolr teer cleared the Narrows at l30, nearly
an hour from the start Four minutes later the May
aower passsd the point The Thistle Jibcd again
and s1a oyer toward Long Island Captain Barr had
-smclt presze there. He Is reputed to have won
dsru that sort Of thing and II hs we're racing
he would have gained by the mancuvre on the Voua
teer and Mxydower but he wasn't he stood well over
toward Coney Island He didn't visa to invite further
comparisons probably
Ths Volunteer and Mayhower some minutes later also
headed over toward tho Long Island shore. The May
flower took in her balloon b and set In its stead b
topssl. The exchange Improvement aud she
drew up on the Volunteer But the breeze fresheDed
bit and &C 1925 the Volunteer glided past the NAY
flower She was only nfty feet from tho Maynower out
seemed to have Q little wind all to herself Tho Nay
flower broke out her balloon jib again and there was
Just wind enough to I'll It. It was beam wind ana the
Yachts laid n straight course for Buoy No. TO- But
steamboats, and steam yachts more anxious to gratfy
curiosity than give tae contestants fair play persisted
in keeping too near the yachts rushing ahead OF
thsm and again dropping astern Of them. Commodore
Gerry suggested newspapers should for them
hammer and tongs that they might learn to behave
themselves bettor whom the Cup sailed.